Medinilla hybrid plant named &#39;Royal Glow&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Medinilla  cultivar named ‘ROYAL GLOW’ is disclosed, characterized by a solid growth habit, erect plant habit, measuring about 35 cm in height; green colored leaves, and pendulous panicles with red-purple (RHS 63B) colored flowers. The new variety is a  Medinilla , normally produced as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Medinilla hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘ROYAL GLOW’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid cultivar of Medinilla plant, botanically known as Medinilla hybrid, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘ROYAL GLOW’. The genus of Medinilla belongs to the Melastomataceae family.

The new Medinilla ‘ROYAL GLOW’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors, Elly Bak and Nico D. M. Steur, in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The seed parent is the Medinilla selection designated ‘88078319’ (unpatented). The pollen parent is the Medinilla selection designated ‘88078320’ (unpatented). The objective of the breeding program was to produce a new Medinilla variety with good growing habits and an attractive inflorescence. The crossing was made in 2011.

‘ROYAL GLOW’ was discovered and selected by the inventors in 2013, as a single flowering plant, at a research greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Medinilla hybrid ‘ROYAL GLOW’ terminal vegetative stem cuttings was first performed in 2013 Assenfeldt, the Netherlands. Subsequent propagation has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ROYAL GLOW’ which in combination distinguish this Medinilla hybrid as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Solid growth habit;     -   2. Erect shrub plant, measuring about 35 cm in height (above the         pot when first flowering);     -   3. Green colored leaves, measuring about 25 cm in length and         about 13 cm in width;     -   4. Pendulous panicles with red-purple (RHS 63B) colored flowers.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Of the commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, the most similar in comparison to the new Medinilla ‘ROYAL GLOW’ is the Medinilla ‘ROYAL INTENZ’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,665). Plants of the new Medinilla ‘ROYAL GLOW’ differ from the plants of Medinilla ‘ROYAL INTENZ’ in the following ways:

-   -   1. Plants of ‘ROYAL GLOW’ have smaller leaves than plants of         ‘ROYAL INTENZ’.     -   2. Plants of ‘ROYAL GLOW’ have lighter colored inflorescences         than ‘ROYAL INTENZ’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Medinilla ‘ROYAL GLOW’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of ‘ROYAL GLOW’.

FIG. 1. shows a side view perspective of a typical potted flowering plant of ‘ROYAL GLOW’ at about 50 weeks from potting.

FIG. 2. shows a side view perspective of a typical inflorescence of ‘ROYAL GLOW’ at about 50 weeks from potting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘ROYAL GLOW’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length, fertilizers and humidity without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photograph, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Medinilla ‘ROYAL GLOW’ as grown in a greenhouse in Assendelft, the Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in a commercial practice.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 Edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the plants of ‘ROYAL GLOW’ described is about 50 weeks from potting.

-   Botanical classification: Medinilla hybrid ‘ROYAL GLOW’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Medinilla selection designated ‘88078319’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Medinilla selection designated ‘88078320’             (unpatented). -   Propagation: Cuttings. -   Plant:     -   -   General appearance and form.—Height: About 35 cm. Diameter:             About 50 cm. Shape: Erect Shrub. Growth Habit: Stem. Plant             Vigor: Good. Flowering Season: From April till October. Cold             Tolerance: Frost tender, temperatures below 5° C. may damage             plants.         -   Quantity of primary lateral branches.—Average: 2.         -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Diameter: About             15 mm. Shape: Winged, width of wings about 3 mm. Length: 15             to 25 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Strength: Medium. Internode             Length: 8 to 15 cm. Color: Green; near RHS 137B with             lignified parts near Grey-Brown 199B. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Overall shape.—Elliptical.         -   Quantity.—About 14.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Average overall length.—25 cm.         -   Average overall width.—13 cm.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire to weakly undulate.         -   Texture, both sides.—Smooth.         -   Venation.—Type: Sunken, below surface of leaf. Pattern:             Parallel. Color upper side: Yellow-green; closest to RHS             145C. Color under side: Green; closest to RHS 138B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Shape.—Pendulous panicles.         -   Amount.—About 4, depending on size of plant.         -   Length.—Average: 42 cm.         -   Width.—Average: 15 cm.         -   Aspect.—Pendulous.         -   Color.—Red, closest to RHS 62B.         -   Fragrance.—Not observed.         -   Corolla.—.         -   Number.—About 300 per panicle.         -   Petals.—.         -   Quantity.—4-6 per flower.         -   Length.—Average: 13 mm.         -   Width.—Average: 7 mm.         -   Overall shape.—Ovate, asymmetrical.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Shape.—Obovate, symmetrical.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.         -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: Red-purple closest to             RHS 74C. When opening, lower surface: Red-purple closest to             RHS 74C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity: Single structure identifiable, round in             shape, no individual apex. Length: Maximum 8 mm. Width:             Approximately 4 mm. Base: Fused. Margin: Entirely fused.             Texture: Glabrous all surfaces. Arrangement: Growth             together, enclosing the ovary. Color: Closest to RHS             Red-Purple 62.         -   Bracts.—Arrangement: Verticillate. Quantity: 4 per crown.             Length: Average 2 to 5 cm. Width: Average 1 to 3.5 cm.             Shape: Elliptical. Color: Closest to Red RHS 39B. Apex:             Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous all             surfaces.         -   Bud.—Length: Average: 10 mm. Diameter: Average: 5 mm. Color:             Red-purple; near RHS 63B. Shape: Ovate. Texture: Glabrous.         -   Peduncles.—Length: Average 16 cm. Diameter: Average 7 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Glabrous. Angle: Straight down.             Color: Basal light green; near RHS 145C to Red-purple near             RHS 59C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: Average range 3 cm to 12 mm. Diameter:             Average: 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Glabrous. Angle:             About 45°. Color: Closest to Red-purple RHS 63B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: Average: 10. Length: 8 mm. Diameter: <1 mm.             Color: Yellow, with a white base (too small to qualify             R.H.S. value).         -   Anthers.—Shape: Basifixed, linear. Diameter: 2 mm. Length:             9 mm. Color: Violet, closest to RHS 83B. Pollen: Not             visible.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 per flower. Length: 15 mm. Style: Length:             14 mm. Color: RHS White 155D. Stigma: Shape: Punctiform.             Width: <1 mm. Color: White, too small to qualify R.H.S.             value.         -   Ovary.—Shape: Obovoid. Position: Inferior. Length: 5 mm.             Diameter: 3.5 mm. Color: White; closest to RHS 155C. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—No seeds or fruits detected to date.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—No observations made.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Temperatures below 5° C. may damage             plants. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Medinilla plant named ‘ROYAL GLOW’ as herein illustrated and described. 